Remote work culture is becoming increasingly important as more companies transition to remote or hybrid work setups. Connecting remote workers is the main idea behind the remote work culture. The sense of belongingness that usually happens in an in-office setup continues to persist in the virtual environment. It is made of collective behaviors, ideals, and practices of teamwork that are established through confidence, independence, honesty, and diversity. It is a different working style than the norm, but that does not mean it is less effective. What it lacks in physical contact, it makes up for in productivity.
How To Build Culture in a Remote Team
A well-defined remote work culture in a remote work environment increases productivity, which in turn results in higher job satisfaction. These are the pivotal points that make a company a lead magnet for attracting top talents from a global pool, and top-notch employee retention. Moreover, it is crucial to highlight the recipe for success in achieving this: trust, effective communication, validation, appreciation, versatility, accountability, and respect for personal boundaries. We are humans and we are far from perfect, so no matter what we do, problems can and will still arise. How we react to those problems as a team is where our true success shines.
Are there any challenges in remote work environments?
Of course, we are not strangers to the hurdles along the path to success. To pinpoint the most obvious struggle, it is challenging to adjust to time zone differences. If done the wrong way, this may impact the schedules and cause potential delays. It is important to be upfront about schedule expectations when hiring or onboarding any remote worker from outside of your company’s time zone. Different cultures can set different work standards and expectations, which can be difficult. The best way to combat this is to have open communication about workload expectations during the onboarding process. Using project management tactics is also a great way to maintain visibility into your remote team member’s work.
What tools and technologies could support remote culture?
The advent of new and innovative technologies paved the way for remote work. As remote work environments become more widespread and embraced, the demand for a more streamlined workflow is also trailing behind it. The best tools to utilize to assist in remote work to start would be project management tools like Asana and Trello, communication platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams, and for team meetings and conferences, Zoom or Google meet would work great. The proper integration of these tools into the company’s workflow would, in turn, become an effective way to support a cohesive remote team environment.
Work-Life Balance in Remote Work
Turn everything off if it is after work hours! Everyone needs a break. Regular breaks are highly recommended to avoid burnout. Flexible scheduling would, allow your employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance so they can be present in both their professional and home lives. Lastly, mental health matters. The provision of resources that can clear the team’s mind of worries would do absolute wonders.
Here at Attorney Assistant, we have a thriving remote work culture. The overall health and wellness of our people is top priority, which is why we have integrated paid time off, breaks and flexibility into their schedules. Providing a safe place for communication along with positive reinforcement allows our employees to have open conversations as well as feel appreciated in the workplace.
